St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-04
A Greatly Needed Enterprise at Grand
Forks Which Delegate Clifford
Failed to Assist.
Democrats Of the North Reported To Be
Crying For Divisi0n--0utlook
For the Party.
A Plea For Patronage in the Interest of
the Democratic Press---General
Political Chit Chat.
How Well Hugh ]. Campbell Once Rep
resented the Legal Arm Of the
Government in Dakota.

Hon. Growler Clifford has again been
heard from in his sunny seques-
tered home. The burthen of his Jere-
Made is that horrid Democratic con-
greSS which has done naught for Da-
kota! The Northern citizens of this
great empire are amused as well as
startled at the occasional growls from
the SOporific statesman, who, when pass
ing through here in cOmatose tour last
fall, was switched off long enough to
tell between maps how advantageous
his acquaintance and experience i'm that
same Democratic congress would prove
II the gaping multitude would only send
him back. They are startled to think
that he has awakened from his hyber-
mating lair before the dandelionS are in
bloom up here. Then they are amused
at his criticism of congress for doing
nothing. He was going to do it all him
self. By 5000 majority the people of
North Dakota, against their in
stlnctS and better judgment,
said we will trust the Hon.
Growler again. Now what did he do
for them? Worse than nothing. A case
at Grand Forks will illustrate. A
greatly needed enterprise at Grand
Forks is new, substantial wagon
bridge, the old pontoon bridge being di-
lapidated and expensive cares. Last
fall the chamber of commerce, always
alert for the business interests of the
valley, began to lay the plans to build
$4,000 bridge, one-half the expense to
be borne by the county. A bill was
secured by the territorial legislature
meeting the wants. As Clifford was to
do so much for the loyal support of the
Republican salt of Grand Forks, a COM
mittee of the chamber Immediately wrote
him that a permit to bridge the Red
river was wanted and asked him to at
tend to it. The sanguine epistolary
delegate replied that he would secure
the permit. He had no doubt of it.
That was early in the session. Time
sped, however, and nothing was seen of
the promised bill. The committee of
the chamber of commerce again, through
its chairman, George d. Lay, urged the
matter upon Clifford, and the tardy
member from South Dakota
then replied that he would
do his best to tack the permit on the
Mcmillan bill, giving the privilege to
the Duluth d Manitoba to bridge the
river, but even that was doubtful.
There were some sulphurous flashes at
Grand Forks about that time, and the
committee were instructed to try and
interest Hon. Knute Nelson, of the Fifth
Minnesota. 1t was, however, then too
late. The result is that an inn
provement which would be worth
thousands of dollars to the business
men of Grand Forks is postponed an
other year. Doubtless the Hon. Growler
will lay this all to the Democratic con-
gress. He never introduced the bill,
nor have we any evidence that he even
tried to get the Mcmillan bill amended,
if that had been proper, which is doubt
full. This is one case. Another in
point is the able manner in which he
succeeded in not getting the Third Judi
cial district divided, when there was alb
solutely not soul opposed to it in or
out of congress. If Mr.. Clifford were to
run for delegate again. instead of North
Dakota giving him the 5000 majority it
is altogether likely it would bury him
beneath 10000 majority for his opponent,
even if that opponent were Joe Rolette,
of Turtle mountain.